The Witcher says what? Its original and enhanced editions have sold 1 million copies on PC combined.

   The only wRPG that can say "hi" to Final Fantasy is Diablo 2.

I also want to mention the Elder Scrolls IV has almost 3.4 million between the PS3 and 360 regular editions and an unknown amount of sales on the PC and the GOTY editions for 360 and PS3. It's guaranteed to have approached the vicinity of 5 million.

About The Witcher: http://kotaku.com/5071631/witcher-sells-a-million

hard to tell with added sales on the site, FFX + FFX-2 its over 13 million though :P.

and my point is a JRPG are still revelant too and more revelant WRPG, considering it higher sales of dragon quest and final fantasy and kingdom hearts.

lol no. They announced it shipped 1 million.

Good sales, but it doesn't touch Final Fantasy X.

Link

hmm interesting but does that include Steam sales and it doesnt show holiday sales. So it has to be around 1.5 - 2 million at least.

http://vgchartz.com/games/index.php?&results=50&name=&console=&keyword=&publisher=&genre=RPG&order=Sales&boxart=Both&showdeleted=&region=All&alphasort=

Not in the slightest

6 games to break 10 million
16 games to break 5 million
50 games to break 2 million

Disgaea certainly shoulod never be used as evidence for proving RPGs are not a niche genre. The only SRPG that can perhaps support this claim is Final Fantasy Tactics, but that game was, of course, carrying the Final Fantasy name (and it kick major ass!).

Anyhow, I agree with you in that RPGs, as a broad genre, is not niche.

I'm not sure if theres really any qualifyable proof for either side of the argument but. I think standalone RPGs (including the popular franchises) tend to cater to a more/less unique play experience, which I think tends to make it on the niche side of things. Moreso for JRPGs rather than WRPGs.

I think the concept of hybrids though are pretty much the way of the future and MMORPGs are anything but niche, so I guess it's where you draw the line.

RPG element/style gameplay mayu very well be implemented in virtually all games on some kind of level in the years to come. However, I think the classic 1 player hero story / D&D RPG is going to be something of an underground following (or Dungeon following if you will).

No it remains an invalid way to argue a point and statistically unsound - what matters is those games within the extremes. Dragon Quest for the record is essentially niche in all but one country in the world. Final Fantasy was niche in the West until Final Fantasy VII, which was in the right place at the right time. While Pokemon is a cultural phenomenon spanning television, games and movies - something which likely cannot be replicated.

These games are successful because of exogenous occurances that cannot be replicated and as such it would be incorrect to assume the success of these games is because they are JRPGs. That couldn't be further from the truth. The overwhelming majority of JRPGs appeal to a niche market, the genre is therefore niche.